North Carolinahttp://www.pfaw.org/
Tue, 03 Mar 2015 11:41:58 -0500Tue, 03 Mar 2015 12:01:55 -0500Klingenschmitt: Murder Of North Carolina Muslim Students Was An Anti-Christian Hate Crimehttp://www.pfaw.org/content/klingenschmitt-murder-north-carolina-muslim-students-was-anti-christian-hate-crime
<p>Last month, three young Muslims students <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/11/north-carolina-muslim-students-gunman-chapel-hill/23222317/">were murdered</a> in an apartment in North Carolina, in a crime allegedly stemming from a long-simmering <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/us/chapel-hill-muslim-student-shootings-north-carolina.html?_r=0">dispute over parking</a>. The man accused of committing the murders was <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/davidmack/everything-we-know-so-far-about-the-alleged-chapel-hill-shoo#.dprwoly2Oz">reportedly an atheist</a> who frequently posted anti-religious messages on his Facebook page.</p>
<p>Among the things he had posted on his Facebook page was an image asserting that despite their opposition to one another, "radical Christians" and "radical Muslims" actually hold similar ideological positions on a wide array of issues ... and because of that, Colorado state representative Gordon Klingenschmitt is convinced that these three Muslims were really killed "because they were like Christians."</p>
<p>Taking the Religious Right's <a href="http://www.pfaw.org/rww-in-focus/persecution-complex-religious-right-s-deceptive-rallying-cry">persecution complex</a> to its absurd conclusion, Klingenschmitt <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktg3HHF2Pbo">cited</a> this particular Facebook post on his "Pray In Jesus Name" program <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkByiTzBm9g">today</a> as proof that this "radical left-wing atheist who is going around killing people of faith ... killed these Muslims because they think like Christians":</p>
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Kyle MantylaGordon Klingenschmitt North CarolinaC3Fighting the Right51351Tue, 03 Mar 2015 11:41:58 -0500North CarolinaKlingenschmitt: Requiring Government Officials To Recognize Gay Marriage Is 'The Yoke Of Slavery'http://www.pfaw.org/content/klingenschmitt-requiring-government-officials-recognize-gay-marriage-yoke-slavery
<p>Shortly after a federal judge struck down North Carolina's ban on gay marriage last year, several magistrates <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/16-north-carolina-judges-quit-following-states-legalization-of-gay-marriage-130058/">resigned</a> from their positions rather than perform same-sex weddings. Now, a state legislator has <a href="http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2015/01/28/nc-legislature-begins-gay-marriage-takes-center-stage/22464243/">introduced a bill</a> that would allow government officials to refuse to preside over such weddings or issue marriage licenses to gay couples based on "sincerely held religious objection" while retaining their jobs.</p>
<p>Gordon Klingenschmitt, not surprisingly, wholeheartedly supports this sort of legislation, saying on his "Pray In Jesus Name" program <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAKLK0weLNc">yesterday</a> that requiring conservative Christians who work in government positions to follow the law when it comes to gay marriage is "the yoke of slavery."</p>
<p>As our colleague Peter Montgomery explained <a href="http://www.pfaw.org/media-center/publications/religious-liberty-shield-or-sword">in a report</a> just released yesterday, Religious Right activists are increasingly claiming that "religious liberty" ought to entitle them to engage in anti-gay discrimination, and that is exactly what Klingenschmitt is arguing.</p>
<p>As Klingenschmitt sees it, government workers should have the right to able to opt out of having to "participate in somebody else's sin" if they are a Christian, asserting that failure to grant such an exemption is a violation of the Constitution's <a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articlevi">ban</a> on requiring a religious test to hold public office.</p>
<p>"We do pray against this demonic yoke of slavery," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXC09KVTRtI">Klingenschmitt said</a>, "which is being forced by some liberal judges upon the good people of North Carolina ... Father I pray that you would enable each individual person in North Carolina, whether they are a private or public servant, that they would retain their right of conscience, they would not be forced and compelled by the government to participate in somebody else's sin if it violates their religious views. God, give us religious freedom, especially for those now being compelled by the government to sin":</p>
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Kyle MantylaGordon Klingenschmitt North CarolinaC3Fighting the Right50281Wed, 11 Feb 2015 11:15:10 -0500North CarolinaAnti-Choice Women's Groups Reportedly Pushed For Rape Reporting Requirement In Abortion Banhttp://www.pfaw.org/content/anti-choice-womens-groups-reportedly-pushed-rape-reporting-requirement-abortion-ban
<p>Earlier this week, the National Review <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/397673/quarrel-blew-gop-abortion-bill-joel-gehrke">posted an audio recording</a> of a call that a constituent of Rep. Renee Ellmers made to the North Carolina Republican&rsquo;s office about her role in delaying a vote on <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/republican-abortion-ban-20-weeks">a national 20-week abortion ban</a>, which reveals, among other things, that prominent anti-choice women&rsquo;s groups pushed for a requirement that rape survivors file police reports before being allowed an exemption from the ban.</p>
<p>Ellmers and other Republican women and moderates had <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/national-right-life-targeting-gop-congresswomen-who-objected-abortion-ban-s-rape-provision"> objected to a provision </a> that exempted rape survivors only if they first reported the assault to the police, warning that it could become a political liability for Republicans. In response, the GOP leadership withdrew the bill on the eve of a planned vote to work out what Sen. Lindsey Graham <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/lindsey-graham-tells-anti-choice-activists-need-find-way-out-definitional-problem-rape">later called</a> &ldquo;this definitional problem with rape.&rdquo;</p>
<p>In the call posted by National Review, an Ellmers staffer explains in frank detail the political machinations behind the wording of the rape exception and the ultimate withdrawal of the bill.</p>
<p>As we have noted, an <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/personhood-advocates-come-out-against-20-week-abortion-ban-because-it-includes-rape-exceptio"> earlier version of the bill </a> sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks and approved by the House Judiciary Committee in 2013 included no rape exception at all. But after what the Ellmers staff called a &ldquo;huge communications error&rdquo; from Franks, when he suggested that rape rarely results in pregnancy, Republican leaders quietly snuck in a rape exception to the bill before putting it up for a vote on the House floor.</p>
<p>The Ellmers staffer revealed that prominent anti-choice women&rsquo;s groups, including the Susan B. Anthony List and Concerned Women for America, objected to the rape exception and were instrumental in getting GOP leaders to modify it to include the reporting requirement.</p>
<p>These groups, the staffer said, told Republicans, &ldquo;well, if you&rsquo;re going to make an exception for rape and incest, it&rsquo;s going to have to be reported to law enforcement officials.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The staffer told the constituent that the rape exception was bad policy because it puts the federal government in the position of &ldquo;identifying what is an is not rape&rdquo;&hellip; and creates a &ldquo;loophole&rdquo; by which she alleged women would lie to law enforcement about being raped in order to access legal abortion.</p>
<p>The conversation starts at about the 3:00 mark in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LClrlR-2Ffw">this video</a>:</p>
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Miranda BlueAnti-ChoiceC4North CarolinaRenee EllmersReproductive HealthSusan B. Anthony List Trent Franks Concerned Women for AmericaFighting the Right49876Wed, 04 Feb 2015 11:36:06 -0500North CarolinaMark Harris: Conservatives 'Need To Come Out Of The Closet'http://www.pfaw.org/content/mark-harris-conservatives-need-come-out-closet
<p>After <a href="http://enr.ncsbe.gov/ElectionResults/?election_dt=05/06/2014">coming in third</a> in his <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/pastor-behind-anti-gay-amendment-joins-north-carolina-senate-race-insists-being-gay-choice">campaign for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination</a> in North Carolina, Pastor Mark Harris has returned to the helm of First Baptist Charlotte, where he opened last weekend&rsquo;s <a href="https://vimeo.com/117827124">sermon</a> with remarks objecting to marriage equality and abortion rights.</p>
<p>Harris told his congregation that the majority of Americans oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage and abortion but the media are shutting out such conservative views, while judges, such as the one who <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/10/north-carolina-gay-marriage_n_5968130.html">struck down North Carolina&rsquo;s ban on gay marriage</a>, are unilaterally &ldquo;changing the will of the people.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot believe the lies that will be fed,&rdquo; Harris <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f90eF0gA8Ng&feature=youtu.be">said</a>. &ldquo;Listen, everybody else is coming out of the closet, maybe we need to come out of the closet.&rdquo;</p>
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Brian TashmanC4Mark HarrisMarriage EqualityNorth CarolinaFighting the Right49776Mon, 02 Feb 2015 13:10:22 -0500North CarolinaGOP Rep. Blasts Anti-Boehner Group As 'Bad Actors' Who 'Thrive' On 'Media Attention'http://www.pfaw.org/content/gop-rep-blasts-anti-boehner-group-bad-actors-who-thrive-media-attention
<p>Rep. Renee Ellmers blasted Tea Party Republicans yesterday for launching a half-baked movement to unseat House Speaker John Boehner in today&rsquo;s leadership election. In an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkiicqtU1Gk">interview</a> on Newsmax TV yesterday, the North Carolina Republican called the group challenging Boehner, which is <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/gohmert-speaker-meet-two-far-right-republicans-hoping-oust-john-boehner"> led by Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla.</a>, &ldquo;bad actors&rdquo; who are &ldquo;acting out&rdquo; because they &ldquo;thrive&rdquo; on &ldquo;media attention.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Those who are acting out right now, though, are getting some media attention,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s all it is. It&rsquo;s media attention. These are folks that thrive on it. They&rsquo;re bad actors right now because they&rsquo;re acting as if they&rsquo;re going against the party and there&rsquo;s really no substance to it whatsoever. If they truly meant what their plan was for a new speaker of the House or moving an agenda in a different way, then they should have acted months ago and they did not.&rdquo;</p>
<p>When host Ed Berliner asked Ellmers, who was elected in the 2010 Tea Party wave, if the rebelling members of Congress were Tea Party members, she distanced herself: &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what they associate themselves with, but I can tell you that they get a lot of media attention.&rdquo;</p>
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Miranda BlueC4Louie Gohmert North CarolinaRenee EllmersTed YohoFighting the Right49405Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:35:36 -0500North CarolinaRick Santorum Wishes Obama Would Be A Racial Uniter Like Segregationists Jerry Falwell and Jesse Helmshttp://www.pfaw.org/content/rick-santorum-wishes-obama-would-be-racial-uniter-segregationists-jerry-falwell-and-jesse-he
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/Santorum_A.jpg?1332257316" />
<p>Potential Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum had an opportunity to speak at length to Iowa conservatives last week, when he <a href="http://stevedeace.com/podcast/deace-show-podcast-11-11-14/">guest hosted Steve Deace&rsquo;s radio show</a> on Veterans Day. The three-hour program gave Santorum plenty of time to muse on a variety of topics, including his admiration for segregation proponents&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/matt-barber-whose-idol-backed-segregation-lectures-everyone-else-about-civil-rights-movement">Jerry Falwell </a>and <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/1995/05/what-you-need-know-about-jesse-helms">Jesse Helms</a> and his belief that President Obama&rsquo;s &ldquo;greatest failing&rdquo; has been his failure to end racism in America.</p>
<p>Santorum mentioned that he had recently been <a href="http://www.liberty.edu/news/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=137384">invited to speak</a> at Liberty University, which led him into a tangent on how much he admires the school&rsquo;s founder, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell. Although &ldquo;how the press treated Rev. Falwell was not necessarily positive,&rdquo; Santorum said, he found Falwell to be &ldquo;completely gracious, warm [and] affirming.&rdquo;</p>
<p>This made Santorum think of the late Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, who he said exhibited &ldquo;probably the starkest contrast of what the press used to portray and what the reality was.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;There was no one nicer than Jesse Helms,&rdquo; Santorum said. &ldquo;I mean, I don&rsquo;t think a single Democrat would tell you that on a personal level, there was anybody that was more gentlemanly, more kind than Jesse.&rdquo; (He might want to <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1993-08-06/news/mn-20952_1_carol-moseley-braun">check with Carol Mosely-Braun</a> on that.)</p>
<p>He added that the &ldquo;breakup of any kind of cooperation&rdquo; in government is happening because people like President Obama are failing to be gentlemen like Jesse Helms:</p>
<p align="center"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/177342995&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p>Later in the program Santorum took a call from a listener who complained that the media was giving less coverage to looting and vandalism in Ferguson, Missouri, than to &ldquo;this police officer who has generally a pristine record in law enforcement" who "simply chose to defend himself.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I completely understand your position,&rdquo; Santorum responded, before accusing the media and President Obama of fomenting &ldquo;racial division&rdquo; and &ldquo;pitting one group against another.&rdquo;</p>
<p>President Obama&rsquo;s &ldquo;greatest failing,&rdquo; he added, was that he had the opportunity "to be a transformational figure from a racial point of view and he has abandoned the field.&rdquo;</p>
<p align="center"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/177342997&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
Miranda BlueC4Election 2016North CarolinaPennsylvaniaRick Santorum Fighting the Right49028Mon, 17 Nov 2014 11:44:12 -0500North CarolinaHow 2014's Elections Will Influence 2016's Voting Rightshttp://www.pfaw.org/content/how-2014s-elections-will-influence-2016s-voting-rights
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/vote.jpg?1323366905" />
<p>Voters across the country trying to cast votes in Tuesday&rsquo;s elections ran into hurdles erected by Republican legislatures, governors and secretaries of state. Along with <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/problems-reported-polls-vary-state-state">mechanical glitches and human error</a> &mdash; which occurred in states with leaders on both sides of the political spectrum &mdash; voters faced new laws and policies that made it harder to vote.</p>
<p>In Alabama, a last-minute decision by the attorney general <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/lbupdate/3588262/in-last-minute-decision-alabama-says-voters-cant-use-public-housing-id-at-the-polls/"> barred people from using public housing IDs to vote</a>. Voter ID laws in North Carolina and Texas <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-voting-monitors-concerns-20141104-story.html?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fpolitics+%28L.A.+Times+-+Politics%29"> sowed confusion</a>. Georgia <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/222977-voting-problems-cited-in-key-states">lost 40,000 voter registrations, mostly from minorities</a>. In all, the group Election Protection <a href="http://www.866ourvote.org/newsroom/releases/election-day-2014-democracy-should-not-be-this-hard">reported receiving 18,000 calls</a> on Election Day, many of them <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-voting-monitors-concerns-20141104-story.html?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fpolitics+%28L.A.+Times+-+Politics%29"> having to do with voter ID laws</a>. The group <a href="http://www.866ourvote.org/newsroom/releases/election-day-2014-democracy-should-not-be-this-hard">noted</a> that the flurry of calls represented &ldquo;a nearly 40 percent increase from 13,000 calls received in 2010.&rdquo;</p>
<p>In the presidential election year of 2016, it looks unlikely that those problems will subside &mdash; especially if Congress fails to <a href="http://blog.pfaw.org/content/pfaw-and-allies-deliver-half-million-signatures-calling-congress-restore-voting-rights-act"> restore the Voting Rights Act</a>. The two states that had the closest vote tallies in the last presidential election &mdash; Florida and Ohio &mdash; will go into the presidential election year with Republicans controlling the offices of governor and secretary of state and holding majorities in their state legislatures.</p>
<p>In Florida, Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who won reelection yesterday, will be able to&nbsp;<a href="http://dos.myflorida.com/about-the-department/about-the-secretary/">appoint a secretary of state</a> and will enjoy the support of a <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article3565954.html">veto-proof Republican majority in the state House.</a></p>
<p>In Ohio, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/voting-future-voting-secretary-state-races-watch"> controversial Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted </a> won reelection on Tuesday, along with Gov. John Kasich. They&rsquo;ll be able to work with a <a href="http://www.sunherald.com/2014/11/04/5893513_ohio-gop-seeks-to-bolster-legislative.html?rh=1\"> strengthened GOP majority in the state legislature</a>.</p>
<p>In North Carolina, where a Republican legislature and governor have&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/how-big-money-bought-north-carolina-extremists">cracked down on voting rights</a>, the GOP <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/11/04/4294548_nc-general-assembly-democrats.html?rh=1">held onto its majority</a>. Republican secretary of state candidates in the swing states of <a href="http://www.9news.com/story/news/politics/2014/11/04/secretary-of-state-race/18441033/">Colorado</a>, <a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/2014/11/05/secretary-state-paul-pate-brad-anderson-jake-porter-election/18520695/">Iowa</a> and <a href="http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Cegavske-Wins-NV-Secretary-of-State-Race-281583231.html">Nevada</a> also won elections yesterday.</p>
<p>Two influential elections for voting rights also took place in states unlikely to be presidential swing states. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/voting-future-voting-secretary-state-races-watch">national ringleader</a> for advocates of restrictive voting laws, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/voting-future-voting-secretary-state-races-watch">won reelection</a>. In Arizona, which has been working with Kansas to defend their states' respective tough voting requirements, Republican candidate Michele Reagan also <a href="http://ktar.com/22/1780374/Michele-Reagan-wins-Arizonas-race-for-secretary-of-state">won her contest</a>.</p>
<p>One exception to the trend is Pennsylvania, where Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/corbett-pulls-plug-pennsylvania-voter-id"> who backed a harsh voter ID law that has since been struck down in the courts</a>, lost to <a href="http://www.wolfforpa.com/sections/page/fairness-and-equality-for-pennsylvanians">voting rights supporter</a> Tom Wolf. Although Wolf will <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/elections/20141105_GOP_appears_poised_to_defend_Pa__legislative_edge.html"> contend with a Republican majority </a> in the state legislature, he will be able to appoint a secretary of the commonwealth.</p>
Miranda BlueAlabamaArizonaC4ColoradoElection 2014Election 2016FloridaGeorgiaIowaJohn KasichJon HustedKansasKris Kobach Michele ReaganNorth CarolinaOhioPennsylvaniaRick ScottTexasTom CorbettVoting RightsFighting the RightThe Right to Vote48939Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:02:22 -0500North CarolinaMark Creech 'Heartbroken' By 'Terrible Tragedy' And 'Atrocity' Of Marriage Equality In North Carolinahttp://www.pfaw.org/content/mark-creech-heartbroken-terrible-tragedy-and-atrocity-marriage-equality-north-carolina
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_rww/mark_creech_a_1.jpg?1386800706" />
<p>Mark Creech, director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina, <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/a-lunar-eclipse-and-same-sex-marriage-128492/">wrote in the Christian Post yesterday</a> that he was &ldquo;heart-broken&rdquo; (sic) by the federal court decision striking down North Carolina&rsquo;s marriage equality ban, calling the decision &ldquo;a terrible tragedy &mdash;&nbsp;an evil&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 20.3999996185303px;">&nbsp;&mdash;</span>&nbsp;an injustice in our day.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Creech took some comfort, however, from this month&rsquo;s lunar eclipse, during which God told him that things will get better. &ldquo;God makes all things beautiful in its appropriate time,&rdquo; he writes, including &ldquo;even death, war, killing, the escalation of wickedness, and yes, even the atrocity of legalizing same-sex marriage.&rdquo;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>October 10th marks the infamous day for the Tar Heel state. Judge Max O. Cogburn in Asheville declared in accord with a 4th Circuit Court ruling that North Carolina's marriage amendment was unconstitutional. The decision was not only egregious, but an act of judicial supremacy. I readily admit I was heart-broken, but it wasn't as though I was altogether unprepared.</p>
<p>The Lord had spoken to my heart two days before Cogburn ever slammed down his gavel. With the Supreme Court's inaction and what it would mean heavily on my mind, I awakened about 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 8th, and couldn't go back to sleep. Restless, I got up and piddled about the house and made myself an early breakfast. I noticed the local television news was reporting a lunar eclipse was taking place. I thought to myself, "I want to see that." So, in my pajamas and housecoat, I made my way outside to see this glorious display in the heavens. I must say the sight of it was other-worldly, awesome, and even breathtaking.</p>
<p>Then, while watching the earth's shadow fall across the moon's surface, I heard the sweetness of God's voice. "See Mark," the Lord said, "the light may be eclipsed for a time, but be assured the light of God always returns to shine."</p>
<p>To all of my friends and colleagues in North Carolina and other states negatively impacted by the US Supreme Court's indecision &ndash; a choice that opened the door for gay marriage in 11 more states. Let me say that if you've been like me, confused, depressed, and sometimes even angry at the recent turning of events, then take a lesson from the lunar eclipse: "The light may be eclipsed for a time, but be assured the light of God always returns to shine."</p>
<p>&hellip;</p>
<p>What has happened is a terrible tragedy &ndash; an evil &ndash; an injustice in our day. But God makes all things beautiful in its appropriate time, meaning even death, war, killing, the escalation of wickedness, and yes, even the atrocity of legalizing same-sex marriage. God turns it. He makes it all work beautifully to accomplish His purposes in the end. We may not understand it. Nevertheless, He remains lovingly sovereign over it. We can trust Him in all things.</p>
<p>The light may indeed be eclipsed for a while, but the brightness of God's light will always return to shine.</p>
</blockquote>
Miranda BlueAnti-GayC4Equality For AllMark Creech Marriage EqualityMarriage EqualityNorth CarolinaChristian Action LeagueFair and Just CourtsFighting the Right48761Thu, 23 Oct 2014 11:47:19 -0500North CarolinaKlingenschmitt Blasts Pro-Gay 'Demonic Judges Who Are Imposing The Devil's Law Upon The People'http://www.pfaw.org/content/klingenschmitt-blasts-pro-gay-demonic-judges-who-are-imposing-devils-law-upon-people
<p>In the wake of a <a href="http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/Supreme-Court-decision-expands-gay-marriage-278232321.html">ruling </a>striking down his state's gay marriage ban, a North Carolina magistrate <a href="http://charlotte.cbslocal.com/2014/10/16/magistrate-resigns-rather-than-perform-gay-marriages/">resigned</a> from his position rather than perform same-sex weddings, and for this he is being hailed as a hero by Gordon Klingenschmitt for "rising up and taking back your country."</p>
<p>On his "Pray In Jesus Name" <a href="http://youtu.be/e2NSTxo5zjg">program</a> posted yesterday, Klingenschmitt <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3iI7yyNzqo">praised</a> magistrate John Kallam for resisting "the government's absolutely tyranny" as well as "these demonic judges who are imposing the Devil's law upon the people":</p>
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Kyle MantylaGordon Klingenschmitt Marriage EqualityNorth CarolinaC3Fighting the Right48755Thu, 23 Oct 2014 09:45:02 -0500North CarolinaFlip Benham Crashes Gay Weddings In North Carolinahttp://www.pfaw.org/content/flip-benham-crashes-gay-weddings-north-carolina
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/flip_benham_a.jpg?1355762584" />
<p>With gay marriage now legal in North Carolina, it was only a matter of time before Flip Benham of Operation Save America started crashing wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples.</p>
<p>The North Carolina-based pastor, who is the father of <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/david-benham-his-own-words-gays-destructive-vile-controlled-demonic-forces">Religious Right activists David and Jason Benham</a>, reportedly disrupted several weddings at the Mecklenburg County and Courts Office in Charlotte last week.</p>
<p>Benham&rsquo;s group, which in July <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/benham-group-disrupts-synagogue-satan-unitarian-universalist-worship-services-receives-procl">disrupted a memorial service</a> at a Unitarian Universalist congregation in New Orleans, &ldquo;interrupted several couples&rsquo; weddings as supporters held up a large rainbow flag to block his view,&rdquo; <a href="http://goqnotes.com/31990/same-sex-couples-celebrate-across-north-carolina/">according to the North Carolina LGBT publication Q Notes</a>. &ldquo;Another protester waved a bible in the air as he screamed several profanities and vulgarities.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The Charlotte Observer also <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/10/13/5239460/same-sex-marriages-performed-in.html">captured</a> Benham&rsquo;s protest outside the courthouse:</p>
<p align="center"><img alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/BenhamCourts.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 426px;" /></p>
<p>Kathleen Thomas also <a href="https://twitter.com/kehthomas/status/521688088545087488">posted</a> a photo of Benham and other demonstrators outside of the wedding ceremonies.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p align="center">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DayOneNC?src=hash">#DayOneNC</a> Only 2 protesters at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CharlotteNC?src=hash">#CharlotteNC</a> mass wedding. Pro tip: if you "quote" Scripture don't make shit up. <a href="http://t.co/gzzHP47hWS">pic.twitter.com/gzzHP47hWS</a></p>
<p align="center">&mdash; Kathleen Thomas (@kehthomas)</p>
<p align="center"><a href="https://twitter.com/kehthomas/status/521688088545087488">October 13, 2014</a></p>
</blockquote>
<script async src="http://www.pfaw.org//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Brian TashmanAnti-GayC4Flip Benham Marriage EqualityNorth CarolinaOperation Save America Fighting the Right48702Mon, 20 Oct 2014 09:45:25 -0500North CarolinaNorth Carolina Religious Right Leader Blasts 'Despotism' And 'Tyranny' Of Pro-Equality Court Rulingshttp://www.pfaw.org/content/north-carolina-religious-right-leader-blasts-despotism-and-tyranny-pro-equality-court-ruling
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_rww/mark_creech_a_1.jpg?1386800706" />
<p>Last month, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announced that he would no longer defend the state&rsquo;s marriage equality ban &nbsp;because "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/28/north-carolina-gay-marriage_n_5628129.html">there are really no arguments left to be made</a>."&nbsp;</p>
<p>This did not sit well with Mark Creech, executive director of the North Carolina Action League. In a <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/north-carolina-ags-surrender-on-marriage-nothing-to-applaud-124365/">Christian Post column</a> yesterday, Creech attacked Cooper for &ldquo;wimpishly&rdquo; capitulating to &ldquo;tyranny&rdquo; and yielding to the &ldquo;despotism&rdquo; of &ldquo;judicial totalitarians.&rdquo;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>By refusing to resist with every legal means possible, Cooper capitulates to a form of tyranny in our day. He abandons his post on the field of battle, throws up the white flag, stands in the very place of the state (a state that voted by 61% for the marriage amendment) and wimpishly replies to the 4th Circuit that North Carolina accepts their judgment and surrenders. Furthermore, he calls on the judges who will preside over the cases currently challenging the state's marriage amendment to stand down and yield to the despotism of two judicial totalitarians.</p>
</blockquote>
Miranda BlueAnti-GayC4Equality For AllMark Creech Marriage EqualityMarriage EqualityNorth CarolinaChristian Action LeagueFair and Just Courts47854Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:35:52 -0500North CarolinaTillis Borrowed 'Traditional Population' Phrase From Anti-Immigrant Extremistshttp://www.pfaw.org/content/tillis-borrowed-traditional-population-phrase-anti-immigrant-extremists
<p>TPM has dug up a 2012 interview in which North Carolina House Speaker and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Thom Tillis contrasts the growing black and Latino populations with the more stagnant &ldquo;<a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/thom-tillis-traditional-voters-north-carolina-hispanics-african-americans">traditional population of North Carolina and the United States</a>.&rdquo; (The exchange starts about 2:45 into this video.)</p>
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<p>Tills made the remarks while discussing the need for the Republican Party to reach out to and appeal to non-white voters &mdash; but the phrase &ldquo;traditional population&rdquo; as a euphemism for white Americans was lifted right from the racist, anti-immigrant fringe.</p>
<p>The Social Contract, the <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/the-social-contract-press">journal founded</a> by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/profiles/john-tanton">anti-immigrant movement godfather John Tanton</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc_18_4/tsc_18_4_masters_printer.shtml">frequently</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc_17_01/tsc_17_2_walker_sierra_printer.shtml">uses</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc0204/article_183_printer.shtml">the</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc_23_1/tsc_23_1_walker_printer.shtml">phrase</a> &ldquo;<a href="http://www.thesocialcontract.com/pdf/six-two/hart.pdf">traditional</a> <a href="http://www.thesocialcontract.com/pdf/fourteen-three/xiv-3-197.pdf">Americans</a>&rdquo; to mean non-immigrants, and specifically white non-immigrants. One example, from an <a href="http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc_23_1/tsc_23_1_walker_printer.shtml">essay by Brenda Walker</a> in the Fall 2012 issue: &ldquo;The idea of diversity has been used like a club, to force obedience to the utopian multicultural state, as traditional Americans are assailed by affirmative action and benefits for illegal aliens, which are not available to citizens.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The white nationalist <a href="https://www.vdare.org/posts/gallup-post-election-poll-just-37-percent-support-path-to-citizenship-for-illegals">website</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vdare.com/articles/massachusetts-illegal-alien-sanctuary-killed-matthew-denice-how-many-more-until-its-stopped">VDARE</a> is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vdare.com/articles/sam-francis-the-unfinished-book/132">also known</a> to use&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/vdare-tired-dreamers-sob-stories-fears-extinction-white-america">the formulation</a>. The late <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/krikorian-cites-white-nationalist-anti-reform-pitch">white supremacist writer Sam Francis</a>, who was a contributor to VDARE, has <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20040723181006/http:/www.samfrancis.net/pdf/all1990.pdf#13">also used the phrase</a>.</p>
<p>The phrase is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151695677616415&id=225902781414&comment_id=272389940&offset=0&total_comments=28"> also a favorite of William Gheen</a>, the leader of the anti-immigrant hate group Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, who <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/gheen-immigration-reform-national-rape-hurts-traditional-americans">warned earlier this year</a> that immigration reform would &ldquo;lead to a situation where traditional Americans, like those that have been here for hundreds of years in descendancy, will no longer govern our own nation.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Eagle Forum, the group founded by Phyllis Schlafly, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/eagle-forum-non-whites-non-christians-non-marrieds-tear-down-american-culture">hinted at the same idea</a> when it lamented that &ldquo;non-whites, non-Christians, and non-marrieds vote Democrat out of group identifications. That is, they see it as being in their group interests to tear down traditional American culture.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Famously, Fox News&rsquo; Bill O&rsquo;Reilly made the same connection when he lamented that changing demographics mean "<a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/11/bill-oreilly-the-white-establishment-is-now-the-minority-148705.html">it&rsquo;s not traditional America anymore</a>.&rdquo; Pat Buchanan&rsquo;s 2009 column, &ldquo;<a href="http://imagine2050.newcomm.org/2009/11/04/who-is-american-enough/">Traditional Americans Are Losing Their Nation</a>,&rdquo; got at the same point.</p>
<p>Even if Tillis meant what he said about reaching out to black and Latino voters, his use of the phrase &ldquo;traditional Americans&rdquo; as a euphemism for white people shows that he has a long way to go.</p>
Miranda BlueBrenda WalkerC4Election 2014ImmigrationJohn Tanton North CarolinaSam FrancisThe Social Contract PressThom TillisVDAREWilliam GheenAmericans For Legal ImmigrationEagle Forum Fighting the Right47218Tue, 17 Jun 2014 09:51:44 -0500North CarolinaTony Perkins, Arbiter Of Christianity, Says Pro-Gay Christians Don't Have Same Religious Rights As Conservativeshttp://www.pfaw.org/content/tony-perkins-arbiter-christianity-says-pro-gay-christians-dont-have-same-religious-rights-co
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/tony_perkins_a.jpg?1349206815" />
<p>Family Research Council President Tony Perkins implied today that Christians who support gay rights don&rsquo;t have the same religious rights as conservative Christians because &ldquo;true religious freedom&rdquo; only applies to &ldquo;orthodox religious viewpoints.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Last month, a group of North Carolina ministers and same-sex couples, along with the United Church of Christ denomination, filed a lawsuit <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2014/04/28/religious_liberty_hypocrisy_in_north_carolina_which_forbids_gay_marriage.html">challenging</a> North Carolina&rsquo;s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.</p>
<p>The clergy argue that because of a law that makes it a misdemeanor for a member of the clergy to perform a marriage ceremony without a state license, the same-sex marriage ban violates the religious rights of clergy who wish to perform such ceremonies.</p>
<p>When a caller on Monday&rsquo;s edition of &ldquo;<a href="http://http://wpc.14cb.edgecastcdn.net/0014CB/_definst_/frc/EF14E12.mp3">Washington Watch</a>&rdquo; asked Perkins about his views on the case, Perkins replied that the ministers don&rsquo;t have the same religious rights as others because they aren&rsquo;t real Christians and therefore aren&rsquo;t protected by the &ldquo;true religious freedoms&rdquo; given to Christians.</p>
<p>As we know, only Tony Perkins gets to decide who is and isn&rsquo;t a Christian and has religious rights under the law.</p>
<p align="center"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/148542855&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<blockquote>
<strong>Caller</strong>: I wanted to see if I can get your response to the members of the clergy in Charlotte that are suing for the right to perform gay marriages, saying that the ban on gay marriage infringes on their religious rights. It&rsquo;s my understanding that they are a Christian organization, it&rsquo;s normally the other way around, and so I&rsquo;m curious to hear what you got to say about it.<br />
<br />
<strong>Perkins</strong>: I would use that term &lsquo;Christian&rsquo; loosely. That title is &mdash; let&rsquo;s talk biblical, here&rsquo;s the deal, it&rsquo;s like with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that we worked on in Mississippi and failed in Arizona and other places, here&rsquo;s a test of what is a true religious freedom, a freedom that&rsquo;s based on orthodox religious viewpoints. It has to have a track record, it has to come forth from religious orthodoxy.<br />
<br />
You cannot point to the Christian faith and say that same-sex marriage has been a key teaching of the church. You can only point to the opposite, that the church has stood against sexual immorality in terms of sexual relations of those outside of marriage and in particular homosexual behavior. There is no place, there is nothing for them to stand on and say that same-sex marriage has standing in the orthodox Christian faith.<br />
<br />
They&rsquo;re playing games here, trying to turn the effort that so many Americans are now faced with of preserving religious freedom, they&rsquo;re now trying to do a jujitsu move and say, &lsquo;We&rsquo;re going to use religious freedom to say we have a right to do same-sex marriage.&rsquo; Well, there is no foundation for that, there is no orthodox Christian holding that has ever said marriage is between people of the same sex.</blockquote>
Brian TashmanAnti-GayC4Marriage EqualityNorth CarolinaReligious FreedomTony Perkins Family Research CouncilReligious Liberty46787Thu, 08 May 2014 12:15:28 -0500North CarolinaGOP Senate Candidate To Join Anti-Gay Forum Featuring Extremist Pastorshttp://www.pfaw.org/content/gop-senate-candidate-join-anti-gay-forum-featuring-extremist-pastors
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/elephant_A.jpg?1330022105" />
<p>Southern Baptist pastor Mark Harris, who is running in a hotly contested GOP primary to take on Democratic North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan, launched his political career by <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/pastor-behind-anti-gay-amendment-joins-north-carolina-senate-race-insists-being-gay-choice"> driving the successful campaign to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state constitution</a>.</p>
<p>It should come as no surprise then that Harris will join some of the nation&rsquo;s most fervent opponents of gay rights at the April 24 <a href="http://www.frc.org/wotwwebsite/north-carolina-pastors-briefing">North Carolina Regional Briefing</a>, hosted by the anti-gay Family Research Council. Speakers joining the GOP hopeful at the event include:</p>
<p><strong>Patrick Wooden</strong></p>
<p>The North Carolina preacher alleged during the marriage amendment campaign that gay men &ldquo;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/north-carolinas-anti-marriage-leader-has-anal-obsession">have to wear a diaper or a butt plug just to be able to contain their bowels</a>.&rdquo;</p>
<p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rOg2eg1eS1w" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>He <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/patrick-wooden-warns-gay-men-shove-cellphones-baseball-bats-and-animals-their-anuses-die-dia"> reiterated his claim in follow-up interview </a> where he insisted that he knows of gay men who have &ldquo;literally died in diapers&rdquo; because they &ldquo;have stretched their anuses, their sphincter muscles&rdquo; with <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/patrick-wooden-warns-gay-men-shove-cellphones-baseball-bats-and-animals-their-anuses-die-dia">baseball bats, cell phones and animals</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
I know of a case where in a hospital a homosexual male had a cellphone lodged in his anus and as they were operating on him the phone went off, the phone started ringing. There&rsquo;ve been instances where men have put bats, baseball bats, in their rectums....&nbsp;Even the homosexual lobby knows, those who are pro-homosexual, they know that they cannot win the argument describing what it is that these people actually do to each other, the objects, the animals in certain cases, the little gerbils; thank God I&rsquo;m a human being!</blockquote>
<p>Wooden has also called homosexuality &ldquo;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/while-protesting-southern-poverty-law-center-aftah-proves-why-its-hate-group">wicked, deviant, immoral, self-destructive, anti-human sexual behavior</a>,&rdquo; said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/patrick-wooden-rails-against-glee-madea-big-momma-and-oprah-promoting-gay-perversion">Tyler Perry</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/wooden-chaz-bono-under-influence-devil">Chaz Bono</a> are under Satan&rsquo;s influence, warned that&nbsp;<em>Glee </em>promotes &ldquo;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/wooden-chaz-bono-under-influence-devil">a wicked, perverse lifestyle that destroys people</a>&rdquo; and <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/patrick-wooden-rails-against-glee-madea-big-momma-and-oprah-promoting-gay-perversion"> described violence against gay people as &ldquo;normal.&rdquo; </a></p>
<p><strong>E.W. Jackson</strong></p>
<p>The pastor and <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/religious-right-faces-string-election-and-gay-rights-defeats-blown-narrative"> failed GOP Virginia lieutenant governor candidate </a>drew wide notoriety for his claims that gay people are <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/jackson-gays-lesbians-very-sick-people-psychologically-mentally-emotionally"> &ldquo;degenerate,&rdquo; &ldquo;perverse&rdquo; and &ldquo;very sick people psychologically, mentally and emotionally.&rdquo; </a></p>
<p>He has also warned that homosexuality &ldquo;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/jackson-gays-lesbians-very-sick-people-psychologically-mentally-emotionally">poisons culture, destroys families, destroys societies [and] brings the judgment of God unlike very few things that we can think of</a>,&rdquo; adding that it is driven by &ldquo;spiritually darkened&rdquo; people who seek to &ldquo;recruit&rdquo; others.</p>
<p>Jackson has linked homosexuality to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/ew-jackson-warns-same-sex-marriage-leads-bestiality-adam-and-steve-becomes-adam-and-bull">bestiality</a> and <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2010/04/audio-i-believe-there-is-a-direct-connection-to-pedophilia.html">pedophilia</a>, feared that Obama &ldquo;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/ew-jackson-deliver-gays-destructive-lifestyle-obama-will-teach-children-homosexuality">will force schools to start teaching all children homosexuality</a>&rdquo; and criticized gay rights advocates and progressives for having supposedly &ldquo; <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/e-w-jackson-pro-gay-rights-liberals-kill-black-folks-ku-klux-klan"> done more to kill black folks whom they claim so much to love than the Ku Klux Klan, lynching and slavery and Jim Crow ever did</a>.&rdquo;</p>
<p>He even labeled the repeal of Don&rsquo;t Ask Don&rsquo;t Tell an &ldquo;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/e-w-jackson-pro-gay-rights-liberals-kill-black-folks-ku-klux-klan">abomination</a>&rdquo; and said that <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/ew-jackson-god-will-stop-blessing-military-because-gay-rights"> God will punish the military for allowing openly gay service members</a>, remarks he <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/ew-jackson-resorts-lying-duck-questions-about-anti-gay-rhetoric">later denied making</a> even though they were captured on audio and videotape.</p>
<p><strong>Rick Scarborough</strong></p>
<p>The Texas-based Religious Right leader has built a career around stoking fears that Christians will face&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rick-scarborough-still-waiting-be-arrested">imprisonment</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/blood-martyrs-predicted-following-hate-crimes-protections">persecution</a>, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/scarborough-needs-money-stop-sodomites">communism</a> and <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/religious-right-self-victimization-full-force-values-voter-summit-fear-christian-concentrati"> concentration camps </a> if gay marriage becomes legal. He also says that <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/scarborough-calling-sodomites-gay-abuse-language">gay people should be only referred to as &ldquo;sodomites&rdquo;</a> and should &ldquo;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/when-obama-declares-lbgt-shame-month-right-will-support-it">hang their heads in shame</a>.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Scarborough blamed the 2012 Benghazi attack on &ldquo;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/scarborough-god-allowed-benghazi-attack-because-america-mired-sin">the assault on God&rsquo;s institution of marriage</a>,&rdquo; insisted Obama&rsquo;s opposition to Russia&rsquo;s anti-gay crackdown will <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/scarborough-obamas-condemnation-russian-anti-gay-law-puts-our-country-very-precarious-place"> lead to God&rsquo;s judgment on America</a>, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rick-scarborough-aids-gods-judgment-immoral-act">described AIDS as divine punishment for gay &ldquo;immorality&rdquo;</a>&nbsp;and called for a <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/scarborough-we-need-class-action-lawsuit-against-homosexuality"> &ldquo;class action lawsuit&rdquo; against homosexuality</a>.</p>
<p align="center"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/115824508&color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Ron Baity</strong></p>
<p>The North Carolina pastor who leads Return America, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/activists-want-pass-anti-gay-marriage-amendment-stop-satans-attack-marriage"> a group which pushed the marriage amendment</a>, has said that <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/05/omg-video-frc-awards-ron-gays-worse-than-maggots-baity-with-2012-watchmen-award.html"> &ldquo;homos&rdquo; are worse than maggots and akin to murderers</a>.</p>
<p>He has also alleged that gay people are making society <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/05/omg-video-frc-awards-ron-gays-worse-than-maggots-baity-with-2012-watchmen-award.html"> &ldquo;more filthy&rdquo; and bringing about divine punishment in the form of an &ldquo;urban renewal program,&rdquo; </a> adding that &ldquo;perverted&rdquo; gay people should be &ldquo;prosecuted&rdquo; before they cause the &ldquo;death&rdquo; of America.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Since they cannot produce they must recruit young people to their perverted, warped agenda. One cannot think of anything more nauseating, debased, lewd and immoral than recruiting precious young people into such shameful conduct,&rdquo; he wrote in a <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/04/ron-gays-are-worse-than-maggots-baity-the-man-behind-ncs-yes-on-amendment1-billboards-4marriagenc.html"> Return America newsletter</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Tony Perkins</strong></p>
<p>As leader of the Family Research Council, Perkins <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/why-would-mainstream-conservative-think-tank-praise-kill-gays-law"> defended Uganda&rsquo;s &ldquo;kill the gays&rdquo; bill </a> and connected homosexuality to a whole host of evils, including <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/frc-losing-it-over-dadt">death</a>, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/perkins-gays-blame-rise-military-sexual-assaults-service-members-preferred-dont-ask-dont-tel"> sexual assault</a>, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/perkins-gays-wont-be-happy-marriage-equality-because-emptiness-within-them">depression</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/tony-perkins-links-military-suicide-rate-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell">suicide</a>, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/perkins-warns-government-promotion-same-sex-relations-population-control">government population control</a>, and <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/frc-scientists-refuse-accept-clear-correlation-between-homosexuality-and-pedophilia">child abuse</a>. He has even compared homosexuality to <a href="http://www.glaad.org/cap/tony-perkins">shootings, kidnappings</a> and <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/perkins-pride-month-adultery-drunkenness">alcoholism</a>.</p>
<p>Perkins has also said that gay rights advocates are using <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/frc-blasts-obama-administration-support-it-gets-better-calls-it-immoral-disgusting-perversio"> &ldquo;disgusting&rdquo; anti-bullying programs in schools to &ldquo;recruit&rdquo; children</a>, arguing that gay youth shouldn&rsquo;t be affirmed for who they are <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/perkins-gay-teens-are-suicidal-because-they-know-they-are-abnormal"> since they intrinsically know they are &ldquo;abnormal,&rdquo; leading to depression and suicide</a>.</p>
<p>The FRC head told one Religious Right group that <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/perkins-gay-activists-are-intolerant-hateful-vile-spiteful-pawns-devil"> gay rights advocates are &ldquo;hateful&rdquo; pawns of the Devil</a>.</p>
<p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hfNVgJ4rwMo?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></p>
Brian TashmanAnti-GayC4E.W. JacksonElection 2014Mark HarrisNorth CarolinaPatrick WoodenRick Scarborough Ron BaityFamily Research CouncilFighting the Right46516Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:40:13 -0500North CarolinaCreech: Marriage Equality Rulings Signal God's 'Impending Judgment'http://www.pfaw.org/content/creech-marriage-equality-rulings-signal-gods-impending-judgment
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/gods_wrath_1_a.jpg?1357324981" />
<p>Pastor Mark Creech, head of the American Family Association-affiliated Christian Action League of North Carolina, warns in a <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/america-struck-with-judicial-blindness-114688/">Christian Post column</a> published yesterday that federal court decisions striking down marriage equality bans in Kentucky and Virginia are a &ldquo;sign of the times&rdquo; signaling God&rsquo;s &ldquo;impending judgment&rdquo; on America.</p>
<p>&ldquo;This is not the fresh air of new freedom that we smell; it is the smoke of Sodom,&rdquo; Creech writes.<br />
&ldquo;[T]hese new legal precedents will essentially destroy the nation if not reversed,&rdquo; he adds. &ldquo;America must reclaim its sexual sanity or lose its life.&rdquo;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In an irony of ironies, during the week of Valentine's, two federal judges overturned the marriage protection amendments of Kentucky and Virginia, single-handedly redefining romance and marriage.</p>
<p>&hellip;</p>
<p>Such court decisions are certainly a sign of the times &ndash; a sign that we are heading for an impending judgment. This matter burdens my heart greatly nearly every day, sometimes with tears.</p>
<p>John Phillips, the great preacher and Bible commentator once said concerning the story of Sodom's celebration of homosexuality and its ultimate destruction, the first sign of the imminence of God's judgment is a judicial blindness &ndash; an inability to make right moral judgment. Citing in Genesis chapter 19 how the angelic visitors struck the perverse mob pressing on Lot's door with blindness, Phillips writes:</p>
<p>"'Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad,' said one of the ancient philosophers Not so! Whom God would destroy, He first makes blind. There comes a point in the rising tide of human wickedness, where God acts. In preparation [for His judgment] He blinds. The process takes various forms; in Pharaoh's case, God hardened his heart; in a coming day He will send a strong delusion so that they will believe 'the lie.' It is a dangerous thing to transgress with arrogance and persistence the laws of God."</p>
<p>The CP notes that Judge Heyburn said in the Kentucky case that the state "cannot impose a traditional or faith-based limitation upon a public right without a sufficient justification for it." Contrary to the erroneous assertions of many, the Constitution itself was based in the law of nature's God. The Scriptures declare the homosexual relationship "unnatural" (Romans 1:26-27), not in the sense of what is allegedly natural for the heterosexual and the homosexual, but natural in function.</p>
<p>Not only is the Constitution based in eternal verities that come from the Judeo-Christian ethic, but neither is there any legal basis for redefining marriage as a union of two people regardless of their gender. The Constitution provides no right to same-sex marriage and even the U.S. Supreme Court has declared the states have a pre-eminent duty for determining marriage's meaning. Nevertheless, radical activist federal judges are saying that whenever the state defines the institution as one man and one woman, it's discriminatory.</p>
<p>Well, if it's discriminatory to circumscribe marriage traditionally, then it's just another form of discrimination to deny marriage to polygamists, polyamorists, incestuous couples, and even pedophiles. Are we to believe such couplings often practiced by pagan cultures of the past, which were either incinerated or reduced to ruins for their sexual deviance by God's own hand, are somehow now in the best interest of our great Republic? Will we legally visit and remove the ban on these too? With rulings such as these, there is nothing to prevent it.</p>
<p>I suggest it is both madness and blindness. And these new legal precedents will essentially destroy the nation if not reversed. America must reclaim its sexual sanity or lose its life.</p>
<p>This is not the kind of judicial blindness represented by Justice with the blindfold over her eyes and the scales in her hand. Instead, it makes a mockery of it. This instead is a visionless Justice, groping her way through the darkness of peril.</p>
<p>Phillips writes, "If there is one thing that marks perversion, it is its deep-seated character. As a cancerous cell in a healthy body grows and spreads until it destroys the health of the whole body, so perverted lust entrenches itself and takes over the life."&nbsp;</p>
<p>If this legal trend continues, we are now seeing the beginning of a new era &ndash; an era of judicial sightlessness &ndash; the beginning of our judgment as a nation &ndash; the start of our end.</p>
<p>This is not the fresh air of new freedom that we smell; it is the smoke of Sodom.</p>
<p>God save us.</p>
</blockquote>
Miranda BlueAmerican Family Association C4Equality For AllMark Creech Marriage EqualityNorth CarolinaChristian Action League45773Tue, 18 Feb 2014 14:23:12 -0500North CarolinaRight Wing Targets 'Moral Mondays' Organizerhttp://www.pfaw.org/content/right-wing-targets-moral-mondays-organizer
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/north_carolina.jpg?1379003008" />
<p>Right-wing groups and media are waging a concerted attack on Rev. William Barber, organizer of this weekend&rsquo;s <a href="http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2014/02/09/forward-together-one-step-back-moral-march-brings-tens-thousands-progressives/">&ldquo;Moral March&rdquo;</a> in Raleigh, North Carolina.</p>
<p>North Carolina&rsquo;s politics lurched to the far right after multimillionaire Art Pope poured money into a far-right <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/how-big-money-bought-north-carolina-extremists">takeover</a> of the state government. &nbsp;A tidal wave of horrible legislation last year attacked voting rights, public education, health care, and unemployment insurance -- and raising taxes on poor families to give tax breaks to a handful of the state&rsquo;s wealthiest people. Basically, if you want to see what unfettered Tea Party governance looks like, look at North Carolina.</p>
<p>In response, a huge statewide coalition led by Barber, the president of the state NAACP, organized &ldquo;Moral Mondays&rdquo; protests to draw attention to the legislature&rsquo;s extremism. State GOP officials initially dismissed the movement, with one legislator deriding &ldquo;<a href="http://www.indyweek.com/citizen/archives/2013/06/10/whos-the-moron-sen-thom-goolsby-on-the-protests-he-calls-moron-mondays">Moron Mondays</a>&rdquo; and others blaming the protests on &ldquo;outside agitators.&rdquo; But the protests grew to thousands, with more than 900 people, the vast majority of them from North Carolina, being arrested.</p>
<p>The progressive Forward Together coalition drew tens of thousands of people to Raleigh this weekend for a <a href="http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2014/02/09/forward-together-one-step-back-moral-march-brings-tens-thousands-progressives/">&ldquo;Moral March,&rdquo;</a> which kicked off a year of organizing and voter engagement. This progressive mobilization has generated excitement among progressive activists nationally, and has made Barber a target of the right wing.</p>
<p>In recent weeks, Fox News hosts <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L61PrCC_-UQ&sns=tw">Sean Hannity</a> and <a href="http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/video/video-sen-tim-scott-on-the-record-8/">Greta Van Susteren</a> have invited Sen. Tim Scott, Allen West, and Star Parker &ndash; all right-wing African Americans &ndash; to attack Barber for comments he made suggesting &nbsp;that Scott is a ventriloquist dummy for the Tea Party.</p>
<p>In the days leading up to Saturday&rsquo;s march, the state&rsquo;s Republican Chairman Claude Pope <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9424254">slammed</a> Barber for using "inflammatory and offensive" rhetoric. And Tami Fitzgerald from the North Carolina Values Coalition <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/08/3602345/hkonj-thousands-march-in-downtown.html#storylink=cpy">snarked</a>, &ldquo;The so-called Moral March on Raleigh is anything but moral. It is spearheaded by groups that support abortion and homosexual marriage.&rdquo; I am not aware that Fitzgerald has raised moral objections to right-wing state officials&rsquo; attacks on poor families&rsquo; access to health care.</p>
<p>At a press conference after the March, Tea Party activist David Webb, a Fox and Breitbart contributor, badgered Barber about whether he owed Scott and other black conservatives an apology. No apology was forthcoming. The unruffled Barber said his job and calling are &ldquo;to speak the truth about public policies, policies that hurt millions of people.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Barber said his critique was based on policy, not personality. &ldquo;While some people may choose to get caught up on a metaphor,&rdquo; Barber said, &ldquo;the real indignation and upsetness should be over the regressive agenda&rdquo; and over policies that are causing &ldquo;real-life suffering and death.&rdquo;</p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;">If folk want to get upset, get upset over the denying of Medicaid expansion, get upset over voting to reject unemployment benefits for laid off workers who are Republican, who are Democrat, who are black, who are white. Get upset over reduced access to public education and funding of it&hellip;.and get upset over the attacks to turn back voting rights that were won through blood, sweat and tears.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
Peter MontgomeryAllen WestArt PopeC4Greta Van SusterenNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaPublic EducationRev. William BarberSean Hannity Star Parker tea partyVoting RightsFox News Channel Fighting the Right45676Mon, 10 Feb 2014 09:33:04 -0500North CarolinaThe Spirit Of Selma: Moral March In Raleigh, NChttp://www.pfaw.org/content/spirit-selma-moral-march-raleigh-nc
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/north_carolina.jpg?1379003008" />
<p>The Supreme Court&rsquo;s <em>Citizens United</em> decision and related rulings undermining the nation&rsquo;s campaign finance laws opened the doors to massive corporate and right-wing spending. Nowhere have the results been more catastrophic than in North Carolina, where a right-wing takeover subjected state residents to an avalanche of far-right legislation targeting children, teachers, voting rights, and more.</p>
<p>Last year PFAW&rsquo;s Miranda Blue and Calvin Sloan <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/how-big-money-bought-north-carolina-extremists">documented</a> the far-right takeover of state politics that was funded by billionaire <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/katrina-vanden-heuvel-the-third-koch-brother-hits-north-carolina/2013/06/11/0a7b1c54-d1e5-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html">Art Pope</a> with the help of GOP strategist and current U.S. Senate candidate from Virginia, Ed Gillespie.&nbsp; In 2012, Pope and his allies poured millions of dollars into elections for the state legislature and millions more to elect Gov. Pat McCrory.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Once they got into power, with Pope himself installed as McCrory&rsquo;s budget director, North Carolina citizens were subjected to the full fury of a far-right, Tea Party-on-steroids legislative agenda. Education spending was slashed and thousands of teachers fired while tax dollars were diverted to school vouchers.</p>
<p>Hundreds of thousands of citizens were denied Medicaid and unemployment benefits while taxes were cut for the state&rsquo;s richest residents. And in order to perpetuate the power of Pope&rsquo;s puppets, one of the nation&rsquo;s worst, most restrictive voting laws was put into place to disenfranchise voters, with an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leslie-watson-malachi/on-voting-rights-more-bri_b_3498974.html">assist</a> from the Supreme Court&rsquo;s gutting of a key section of the Voting Rights Act.</p>
<p>But North Carolina has not given Americans only a terrifying look at what a Tea Party-run country would look like. It has also given us an inspiring example of grassroots organizing on behalf of a very different set of values.&nbsp; Led by Rev. William Barber, head of the state&rsquo;s NAACP chapter, North Carolinans began &ldquo;Moral Mondays&rdquo; protests at the state capitol. They were dismissed as &ldquo;morons&rdquo; and outside agitators by right-wing legislators. One of Pope&rsquo;s right-wing groups published personal information of protestors online.</p>
<p>But those efforts did nothing to squelch the Moral Mondays movement, which drew thousands of people to the weekly protests.&nbsp; Hundreds were arrested for nonviolent civil disobedience.</p>
<p>Now Barber and the diverse coalition he leads have put out a call to people across North Carolina and the rest of the country to come to Raleigh on February 8 for what they hope will become the largest civil rights gathering in the south since an interfaith, interracial group of people responded to Dr. King&rsquo;s call to join civil rights marchers in Selma.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, Rev. Barber spoke to bloggers about Moral Mondays, the February 8 march, and the values-based &ldquo;fusion&rdquo; organizing that is sustaining the pro-justice movement in North Carolina. If you&rsquo;re going to change America, he said, you have to change the south &ndash; with broad-based, locally led movements in every state.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Barber emphasized that his movement was not partisan &ndash; that many independents and Republicans have joined in the Moral Mondays protests against the extremist and unjust laws passed by the far-right faction that now runs the state government. What motivates the new coalition, Barber said, is a combination of the constitutional principle of the common good and the biblical principle of caring for the vulnerable. A few days before the march, a policy briefing will examine the moral, economic, political and social costs of the state&rsquo;s regressive legislation.</p>
<p>One goal of turning February 8 into a national event, Barber said, is to discourage right-wing strategists who hope to duplicate Pope&rsquo;s takeover and subsequent imposition of extreme policies that Barber describes as &ldquo;constitutionally inconsistent, morally indefensible, and economically insane.&rdquo;</p>
<p>You can find out more about the February 8 march at the event <a href="http://www.hkonj.com/moral_march_on_raleigh">website</a>.</p>
Peter MontgomeryArt PopeCitizens UnitedMoral MondaysNAACPNorth CarolinaRev. William BarberVoting RightsFighting the RightThe Right to Vote45471Tue, 21 Jan 2014 16:34:16 -0500North CarolinaNorth Carolina Republican Senate Candidate Worked For Neo-Confederate Grouphttp://www.pfaw.org/content/north-carolina-republican-senate-candidate-worked-neo-confederate-group
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_rww/confederate_flag.jpg?1385065802" />
<p>Mississippi&rsquo;s Chris McDaniel isn&rsquo;t the only Republican candidate for U.S. Senate who has <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/10/gop-senate-candidate-spoke-neo-confederate-conference-august"> allied with neo-Confederate activists</a>. Warren Throckmorton <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2013/11/21/senate-candidate-bill-flynn-is-institute-on-the-constitution-host/">reports</a> today that Bill Flynn, a radio talk show host seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Democrat Kay Hagan in North Carolina, is a <a href="http://www.theamericanview.com/our-iotc-host-bill-flynn-announced-candidacy/">close partner</a> of the Institute on the Constitution&rsquo;s David Whitney and has taught courses through the Institute. Whitney wrote on the group&rsquo;s website last week:</p>
<blockquote>
Our Institute On The Constituion [sic] Host Bill Flynn in Triad region of North Carolina announced his candidacy for the United States Senate race this past Sunday. Bill hosts a morning radio show on WEGO (980 AM). Bill has not only taught our <a href="http://store.iotconline.com/us-constitution-courses-current-2012-edition-course-kit-(complete)">U.S. Constitution course</a> he was my co-host on the Constitutional Cruise, All Aboard America this past March. Bill is a good friend and patriot.</blockquote>
<p>Whitney is the <a href="http://www.marylandls.org/officers.php">chaplain of the Maryland chapter of the League of the South</a>, a <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/league-of-the-south">neo-confederate hate group</a> that promotes white nationalism.</p>
<p>Whitney&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.theamericanview.com/about-pastor-david-whitney/">bio</a> notes that he also serves as &ldquo;the Chaplain of the Southern National Congress where he is also the Chairman of the Maryland State Delegation to the Congress.&rdquo; The Southern Poverty Law Center <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2011/winter/the-league-of-the-south-takes-up-arms">describes</a> the Southern National Congress as &ldquo;a neo-Confederate group focused exclusively on advancing a new secession through political means.&rdquo; Two GOP lawmakers in Tennessee were recently <a href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20131031/NEWS0201/310310108/">slated to appear</a> at a Southern National Congress event.</p>
<p>The head of the Institute On The Constitution is <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/category/people/michael-peroutka">Michael Peroutka</a>, a<a href="http://dixienet.org/rights/2013/board_of_directors.php">League of the South board member</a>. Peroutka has&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/how-unions-victory-civil-war-led-gay-marriage">denounced the Union victory in the Civil War</a>, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/peroutka-enda-will-ultimately-force-people-be-gay">attacked civil rights laws</a>, <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/anti-choice-activist-wants-state-prosecute-women-who-have-abortions"> demanded the prosecution of women who have abortions </a> and warned that nondiscrimination legislation <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/peroutka-enda-will-ultimately-force-people-be-gay">would force people to be gay</a>.</p>
<p>&ldquo;You may also tell them that I am proud to be a member of League of the South,&rdquo; Peroutka <a href="http://archive.theamericanview.com/index.php?id=80&print=1&PHPSESSID=c94c35315a76566053d143a36d119fdb">said</a> during his campaign for president in 2004. &ldquo;I look forward to receiving the support not only from guys with Confederate flags in their trucks, but also those with the Southern Cross in their heart.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The Institute on the Constitution&nbsp;<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2013/08/29/instituteconfederatepeople/">regularly attacks</a> Abraham Lincoln as a &ldquo;<a href="http://archive.theamericanview.com/index.php?id=1114">murderous tyrant</a>&rdquo; who should be &ldquo;<a href="http://archive.theamericanview.com/index.php?id=836">on trial for war crimes</a>.&rdquo;</p>
<p>But don&rsquo;t think this GOP candidate&rsquo;s close relationship with the Institute On The Constitution will trouble all of his fellow Republicans, as McDaniels in Mississippi <a href="http://www.teapartyexpress.org/7172/tea-party-express-endorses-chris-mcdaniel-for-u-s-senate">continued</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://madisonproject.com/2013/11/madison-project-announces-five-week-radio-ad-buy-supporting-chris-mcdaniel/">to</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mississippi-tea-party-challenger-endorsed-by-freedomworks">win</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.senateconservatives.com/site/post/2361/chris-mcdaniel-surges-in-new-poll">support</a> from right-wing groups after his own <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/10/gop-senate-candidate-spoke-neo-confederate-conference-august">neo-Confederate links became public</a>.</p>
Brian TashmanBill FlynnC4Chris McDanielDavid WhitneyElection 2014Institute on the ConstitutionLeague of The SouthMichael PeroutkaNorth CarolinaFighting the Right44969Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:30:19 -0500North CarolinaPastor Behind Anti-Gay Amendment Joins North Carolina Senate Race, Insists Being Gay Is A Choicehttp://www.pfaw.org/content/pastor-behind-anti-gay-amendment-joins-north-carolina-senate-race-insists-being-gay-choice
<p>After months of deliberating, Southern Baptist pastor Mark Harris <a href="http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=41115">announced </a>that he will run for US Senate in North Carolina as a Republican challenger to Kay Hagan. Harris&rsquo; wife described his Senate bid as &ldquo;God&rsquo;s will&rdquo; and claimed that &ldquo;the kind of preparation God has given Mark in ministry is the kind of leadership that is needed in a legislative body.&rdquo;</p>
<p>As we&rsquo;ve <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/top-north-carolina-anti-gay-activist-mulls-senate-run">noted</a>, Harris was behind the successful campaign to amend North Carolina&rsquo;s constitution to include a ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions. No stranger to <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/05/audio-pastor-says-heart-of-god-will-be-extremely-disappointed-is-amendment1-fails.html">anti-gay</a> <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/05/audio-another-amendment1-preacher-another-personal-attack-on-lgbt-peoples-human-worth.html">rhetoric</a>, the Republican candidate recently sat down with Wayne Powers on &ldquo;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS0ZO02Z9t0">Speak Out Charlotte</a>,&rdquo; where he insisted that being gay is a choice.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve yet to buy in, as there is not the medical evidence, that an individual that chooses the homosexual lifestyle is born that way,&rdquo; Harris said. &ldquo;That is a choice.&rdquo;</p>
<p>After Powers wondered why someone would choose to be gay when they will most likely face discrimination and ostracization, Harris said that &ldquo;it&rsquo;s kind of like if you get down to the issue of the evidence of global warming, you&rsquo;ve got scientists on both sides; you have the medical community on both sides.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Harris may want to find a new analogy, as there is indeed a <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus">consensus </a>among climate scientists on the existence of man-made climate change.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXFH9E8DqP8&feature=youtu.be">Watch:</a></p>
<p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.pfaw.org//www.youtube.com/embed/dXFH9E8DqP8?rel=0" width="350"></iframe></p>
Brian TashmanAnti-GayC4Election 2014Mark HarrisNorth CarolinaFighting the Right44311Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:25:10 -0500North CarolinaHow Big Money Bought North Carolina for Extremistshttp://www.pfaw.org/content/how-big-money-bought-north-carolina-extremists
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/North-Carolina-Sold_A.jpg?1379435877" />
<p><strong><em>by Miranda Blue and Calvin Sloan</em></strong></p>
<p>In his 2010 majority opinion in <em>Citizens United v. FEC</em>, the case that opened the floodgates to limitless independent election spending by corporations and the wealthy, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that independent spending in elections &ldquo;[does] not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption.&rdquo;<br />
<br />
What has happened in the state of North Carolina since Justice Kennedy wrote those words illustrates just how misguided he was.<br />
<br />
In the years since <em>Citizens United</em>, North Carolina has provided a clear example of what happens when a small number of corporate interests, allied with a far-right base, are allowed unbridled influence over elections. Since 2010, one North Carolina multimillionaire has marshaled the funds for a Republican takeover of the statehouse and governor&rsquo;s mansion, leading to a slew of far-right legislation cutting benefits for working people, lowering teacher salaries, denying Medicaid coverage to half a million low-income people, defunding public education, eliminating protections against racial discrimination in the criminal justice system, gutting gun violence prevention efforts, attacking religious freedom and threatening women&rsquo;s reproductive rights &ndash; all while cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy.<br />
<br />
This effort has gone hand in hand with a concerted attack on the very mechanisms of democracy in North Carolina. Since coming into power, Republicans in North Carolina have launched one of the country&rsquo;s broadest attacks on voting rights, decimated the state&rsquo;s campaign finance disclosure laws and contribution limits, heavily gerrymandered congressional districts, and politicized judicial elections.<br />
<br />
These attacks strike at the foundation of democracy &ndash; the guarantee of one person, one vote &ndash; and serve as a cynical insurance policy for an agenda that serves the interests of those few who can afford influence in the new climate of pay-to-play elections.<br />
<br />
A series of Supreme Court decisions deregulating money in politics, combined with the political marriage of the Tea Party and the corporate right, have created a climate where moneyed interests can hold sway over how a state holds its elections, who wins those elections and what those elected officials do once in office. North Carolina provides a case study of what can happen when the financial interests of a wealthy elite are allowed to drown out the voices of ordinary voters.<br />
<br />
<strong>Buying North Carolina</strong><br />
<br />
North Carolina&rsquo;s post-<em>Citizens United</em> Republican takeover has been largely financed by one man: retail magnate Arthur (Art) Pope.<br />
<br />
When the Supreme Court handed down <em>Citizens United i</em>n January 2010, states went to work to comply with the Court&rsquo;s order vacating all federal and state bans on independent corporate expenditures in elections. In July of that year, North Carolina&rsquo;s legislature passed the &ldquo;Citizens United Response&rdquo; bill, which was enacted just before the 2010 elections and opened the door to corporate election spending. Meanwhile, according to Bob Hall, Executive Director of <a href="http://www.democracy-nc.org/">Democracy North Carolina</a>, <em>Citizens United</em> led to a cultural shift that &ldquo;provided a green light to financial interests to feel blessed by the Supreme Court to spend in elections.&rdquo; The result was that outside spending in North Carolina&rsquo;s elections<a href="http://www.followthemoney.org/press/ReportView.phtml?r=472"> increased by 400 percent from 2006 to 2010</a>. And nobody took greater advantage of the new rules than Art Pope.<br />
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<em>The New Yorker</em>&rsquo;s Jane Mayer reported in 2011 that a few months after <em>Citizens United</em>, Pope <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/10/10/111010fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all">received a visit</a> from Republican strategist Ed Gillespie, who was formulating a plan to strategically take over statehouses prior to congressional redistricting. Pope contributed some money directly to candidates, but his real impact came from the establishment of a handful of outside groups that were newly freed from outside spending limits. These groups, like the 501c(4) organization &ldquo;Civitas Action,&rdquo; spent <a href="http://www.campaignsandelections.com/print/325452/the-super-pac-onslaught.thtml">$2.2 million over 22 state legislative races</a>, 18 of which they won. <a href="http://wap.npr.org/story/141078608">Three-quarters of all outside money</a> in state races that year came from groups linked to Pope. In the post-<em>Citizens United</em> election landscape, one man almost single-handedly succeeded in flipping party control of the state legislature.<br />
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Mayer documents the many <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/10/10/111010fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all">misleading attacks</a> that Pope&rsquo;s groups used to unseat moderate Democrats in the state legislature. One Democrat who narrowly lost his seat after a Pope-funded onslaught of attack ads<a href="http://www.campaignsandelections.com/print/325452/the-super-pac-onslaught.thtml"> said</a>, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel like I was defeated by the person I was running against. I was defeated by Art Pope and his cronies, who bought themselves a legislature.&rdquo;<br />
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In 2012, Pope and his cronies doubled down. That year, as documented by the <a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/">Institute for Southern Studies</a>, <a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/2013/01/big-money-in-nc-outside-groups-unleashed-145-million-in-state-races.html">70 percent of the $14.5 million</a> spent by outside groups on state-level races in North Carolina went to benefit Republicans. $8.1 million of that was spent to elect Republican governor Pat McCrory; <a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/2012/11/big-money-plays-big-role-in-north-carolina-elections.html">more than half of that </a>came from the national Republican Governors Association, which itself is<a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/2013/01/big-money-in-nc-outside-groups-unleashed-145-million-in-state-races.html"> partly financed by Pope corporations</a>.<br />
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In two years, thanks to an unprecedented flood of outside spending by moneyed interests, Republicans took control of both houses of North Carolina&rsquo;s legislature and its governor&rsquo;s mansion. And the funders of the effort began to get what they paid for.<br />
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<strong>Tax Cuts for the Wealthy, Salary Cuts for Teachers</strong><br />
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A few weeks before the newly-elected Gov. McCrory was to take office, he announced a <a href="http://www.wral.com/pope-shanahan-find-place-in-mccrory-cabinet/11902422/">notable appointment to his cabinet</a>: Art Pope.<br />
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McCrory named Pope his head of budget policy, charged with writing the governor&rsquo;s budget proposal. McCrory and Pope, with the cooperation of the newly right-wing legislature, went about cutting the safety net for struggling North Carolinians while heaping tax cuts on the wealthy and corporations. McCrory signed laws <a href="http://www.wral.com/nc-s-long-term-jobless-lose-unemployment-checks/12612312/">cutting off unemployment benefit</a>s for tens of thousands of people in the state, in what US Representative David Price (D-NC) called&nbsp; &ldquo;one of the most extreme and damaging acts I have seen in my time in government." He<a href="http://fayobserver.com/articles/2013/08/25/1277841"> cut pay for public school teachers</a>. He refused expanded federal Medicaid funds under the Affordable Care Act, <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/07/3898034/mccrory-signs-bill-blocking-medicaid.html#.UjHfTMZwp8F">denying half a million low-income people access to health care coverage</a>.<br />
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But there wasn&rsquo;t bad news for everyone in North Carolina. On July 23, 2013 McCrory <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/07/23/4184346/gov-mccrory-signs-tax-reform-bill.html#.UjHfhcZwp8F">signed a new tax plan</a> that dramatically lowered corporate income taxes and created a flat tax, which raised taxes on some families and small businesses while heaping the bulk of its benefits on the state&rsquo;s wealthiest families. And, in one of his first orders of business upon taking office, McCrory bestowed<a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/01/10/2598132/gov-pat-mccrory-gives-his-cabinet.html"> salary hikes on members of his own cabinet</a>.<br />
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<strong>An Extreme Agenda</strong><br />
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While Pope and his fellow funders of North Carolina&rsquo;s Republican takeover may have been mostly interested in creating fiscal policy that would benefit their own bank accounts, there was a powerful corollary to their efforts. In a solidly purple state that wavers between parties in presidential elections, Pope helped create one of the most far-right state legislatures in the country. And, thanks to Pope and his cronies&rsquo; efforts to elect McCrory, the legislature&rsquo;s forays into Tea Party extremism go largely unchecked.<br />
<br />
Since the 2010 Republican takeover of the North Carolina legislature, a number of extreme social policies have become law.</p>
<ul>
<li>
In 2009, the North Carolina legislature, in an effort to combat persistent racial disparities in death penalty sentencing, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Justice_Act">passed a bill</a> that would commute a death penalty sentence to life imprisonment if the defendant could prove that race played a significant role in his sentencing. The bill was featured in <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/10/10/111010fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all">Willie Horton-style racist attack ads</a> against at least one state legislator unseated in 2010. In 2013, the legislature repealed the law, and Gov. McCrory <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/21/1217825/-NC-Gov-McRory-Repeals-Racial-Justice-Act-Restores-Legal-Lynching-on-Juneteenth-Liberation-Holiday">added his signature on Juneteenth</a>.</li>
<li>
In August of this year, North Carolina became the seventh state to pass a<a href="http://www.religionnews.com/2013/08/26/n-c-governor-allows-anti-shariah-bill-to-become-law/"> bill aimed at the imaginary threat of Sharia law</a> in the U.S. justice system &ndash; a cover for blatant anti-Muslim fearmongering.</li>
<li>
In July, the legislature passed and McCrory signed a law allowing people to carry concealed weapons into <a href="http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/24/19661345-north-carolina-lawmakers-pass-bill-allowing-concealed-handguns-in-bars-restaurants?lite">playgrounds, parks, some places on college campuses&hellip;.and bars</a>.</li>
<li>
Finally, in July, Gov. McCrory signed into law <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/29/north-carolina-abortion/2598261/">one of the most restrictive anti-choice laws in the country</a> &ndash; despite a <a href="http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/30/19773308-the-fine-print-on-pat-mccrorys-promises?lite">campaign promise </a>that he would not back any new laws restricting abortion rights. The provisions, which were <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/07/30/3068013/mccrory-signs-nc-abortion-bill.html">hidden in a motorcycle safety bill</a>,&nbsp; impose unnecessary <a href="http://www.pfaw.org/rww-in-focus/chipping-away-choice-five-growing-threats-women-s-healthcare-access-and-autonomy#Trap">&ldquo;TRAP&rdquo; regulations</a> on abortion providers in the state, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/29/north-carolina-abortion/2598261/">threating to close most of the state&rsquo;s 16 abortion providers</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Undermining Democracy</strong><br />
<br />
The right-wing takeover of North Carolina has come with an insurance policy: a slew of laws taking power away from individual voters and putting it in the hands of campaign donors.<br />
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In July, the North Carolina legislature passed what election law expert Rick Hasen<a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175441/north-carolina-passes-countrys-worst-voter-suppression-law#"> called</a> &ldquo;the most sweeping anti-voter law in at least decades.&rdquo; The new law requires voters to present one of a<a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175441/north-carolina-passes-countrys-worst-voter-suppression-law#axzz2e3NJLxJj"> narrow set of IDs</a> in order to cast a ballot &ndash; IDs that 318,000 registered voters in the state don&rsquo;t have. It cuts the number of early voting days and eliminates same-day voter registration during early voting, an option disproportionately used by<a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175441/north-carolina-passes-countrys-worst-voter-suppression-law#axzz2e3NJLxJj"> African American voters.</a> The bill invalidates ballots accidentally cast in the wrong precinct. It attacks the voting rights of young people, by eliminating pre-registration for 16- and 17-year olds, and of the elderly and disabled, by making it more difficult to establish satellite polling sites.<br />
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But the law doesn&rsquo;t just make it harder for ordinary North Carolinians to vote. It also makes it <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175441/north-carolina-passes-countrys-worst-voter-suppression-law#axzz2e3NJLxJj">much easier for moneyed interests to influence elections</a>. The bill increased campaign contribution limits, repealed three public financing programs and &ndash; good news for Art Pope &ndash; weakened transparency requirements for outside spenders in elections.<br />
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Pope&rsquo;s influence was particularly visible in the repeal of the popular program<a href="http://www.thevoterupdate.com/articles/2013/8_12_13_h589.php"> providing public financing for judicial elections</a>. Until this year, North Carolina had for a decade maintained a <a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/2013/06/how-art-pope-killed-clean-elections-for-judges-in-.html">nationally renowned clean elections program for judges</a>, a voluntary public financing fund used by 80 percent of judicial candidates across the political spectrum. In June, after Republicans in the state legislature took aim at the program, a Republican legislator came up with a compromise to save the clean judicial elections. But Pope <a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/2013/06/how-art-pope-killed-clean-elections-for-judges-in-.html">single-handedly convinced the legislator</a> to drop his compromise proposal, and the pioneering public financing program died, leaving judicial elections vulnerable to partisan spending and the appearance of corruption.<br />
<br />
Finally, Ed Gillespie&rsquo;s original goal was achieved to great effect. In 2011, the newly elected GOP-dominated state legislature <a href="http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/07/nc_redistricting_decision_another_setback_for_voting_rights.html">redrew the state&rsquo;s congressional map</a> to cram African-Americans and other largely Democratic constituencies into a small number of districts and increase the number of Republicans elected to Congress.<a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/how-dark-money-helped-republicans-hold-the-house-and-hurt-voters"> It worked</a>. In 2012, 50.6 percent of North Carolina voters cast their ballots for Democratic congressional candidates. But thanks to the legislature&rsquo;s extreme partisan gerrymandering, the state&rsquo;s U.S. House delegation ended up being 69 percent Republican -- nine Republicans and only four Democrats.<br />
<br />
<strong>Citizens Fight Back</strong><br />
<br />
North Carolina citizens, recognizing that their democracy has been ripped out of their hands, are fighting back. Since April, civil rights leaders have led weekly &ldquo;Moral Mondays,&rdquo; protests of thousands of people in front of the statehouse. So far, <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/19/3120620/moral-monday-rails-against-mecklenburg.html">more than 900 people</a> have been arrested in the protests, which organizers plan to continue in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/moral-monday-north-carolina_n_3786358.html">as the next election approaches</a>.</p>
Miranda BlueArt PopeC4Citizens UnitedEquality For AllGovernment By the PeopleNorth CarolinaSupreme CourtFair and Just CourtsFighting the RightFreedom of SpeechReligious LibertyThe Right to Vote44232Thu, 12 Sep 2013 10:51:28 -0500North CarolinaDavid Lane Digs Inhttp://www.pfaw.org/content/david-lane-digs
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/david_lane_a.jpg?1354722428" />
<p>In July, we reported on <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/republican-presidential-hopefuls-favorite-christian-nation-extremist">Christian-nation extremist</a> <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/category/people/david-lane">David Lane</a>&rsquo;s closed-door <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/iowa-summit-religious-right-activists-hope-change-direction-wind-against-gay-agenda">pastors briefing</a> in Iowa, and the <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/ted-cruz-rallies-right-wing-pastors-iowa">presidential hopefuls</a> and other politicians who have flocked to Lane&rsquo;s gatherings over the years.</p>
<p>This week the <em>Des Moines Registe</em>r&rsquo;s Jennifer Jacobs <a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130903/NEWS09/130903025/1056/news05?nclick_check=1">reported</a> that Lane&rsquo;s American Renewal Project is holding church-based voter registration drives on three Sundays this month: Sept. 15, Sept. 22 and Sept. 29.&nbsp; Steve Michael, a spokesperson for the project, told the <em>Register </em>that after the American Renewal Project&rsquo;s $1.2 million voter registration campaign in Missouri during the last election cycle, the state saw a 3 percent increase in evangelical voters. &nbsp;He&nbsp;said it will organize in Iowa &ldquo;steadily until the 2014 election.&rdquo;</p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;">The "Stand-up Sundays" model goes like this: Pastors ask their congregation members to stand up if they're already registered. Volunteers will then hand out voter registration paperwork to the adults still seated. But each Iowa pastor will decide how to do it, Lane told the Register.</p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;">Iowa is among 11 states the American Renewal Project is targeting in the 2014 cycle, Michael said. The others are Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia.</p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;">Organizers will do &ldquo;Pastors and Pews&rdquo; events followed by voter registration drives in each state. Next up is Louisiana on Sept. 26-27&hellip;.</p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;">Lane said Iowa may be one of the most registered states in the nation, thanks to the attention from the presidential campaigns, so he expects Louisiana, Arkansas and North Carolina to be more "target rich areas."</p>
<p>It&rsquo;s worth noting that Louisiana, Arkansas, and North Carolina are also among the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/08/09/the-fixs-top-10-senate-races-of-2014-3/">top Senate races</a> for 2014, as are other states on Lane&rsquo;s target list.&nbsp;</p>
Peter MontgomeryAlaskaArkansasColoradoDavid LaneElection 2014IowaIowa Renewal Project LouisianaMontanaNevadaNorth CarolinaPastors and PewsSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaSteve MichaelWest VirginiaAmerican Renewal ProjectFighting the Right44168Thu, 05 Sep 2013 14:09:01 -0500North CarolinaPhyllis Schlafly's Totally Coherent Defense of North Carolina's Voter Suppression Lawhttp://www.pfaw.org/content/phyllis-schlafly-s-totally-coherent-defense-north-carolina-s-voter-suppression-law
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_teaser_astory" width="390" height="250" alt="" src="http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/images/a_story_images/phyllis_schlafly_a.jpg?1350674945" />
<p>In a WorldNetDaily <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/north-carolina-embraces-honest-elections/#dpCiW0WS7v0xABt8.99">column</a> today, Eagle Forum&rsquo;s Phyllis Schlafly comes to the defense of <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/08/north_carolina_s_speedy_vote_suppression_tactics_show_exactly_why_the_voting.html">North Carolina&rsquo;s new voter suppression measure </a>with classic Schlafly logic. The new law is not politically motivated and won&rsquo;t keep Democrats from voting, Schlafly claims&hellip;before adding that the law&rsquo;s main virtue is that it is politically motivated and will keep Democrats from voting.<br />
<br />
Schlafly starts out her argument by claiming that the notion that the state&rsquo;s new photo ID requirement will disproportionately disenfranchise largely Democratic voting groups is &ldquo;absurd&rdquo; because &ldquo;the poorest members of society can obtain photo ID to get taxpayer-funded handouts&rdquo;&hellip;.and then immediately contradicts herself by declaring &ldquo;the real reason the left wants to make sure that individuals without voter ID are allowed to vote is because they are expected to vote for Democrats&rdquo;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Liberals make the absurd claim that requiring photo ID is discriminatory because some minority groups may be unable to provide proper ID. But government-issued photo identification can be obtained by anyone at very low cost.</strong></p>
<p>We already need photo ID, aka a driver&rsquo;s license, to drive to work, which is rather important to most people. Welfare recipients are required to show photo ID to receive money in many states, and we haven&rsquo;t heard any gripes about ID discrimination.</p>
<p><strong>If the poorest members of society can obtain photo ID to get taxpayer-funded handouts, they should be able to do likewise for voting. The real reason the left wants to make sure that individuals without voter ID are allowed to vote is because they are expected to vote for Democrats.</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Schlafly then takes on the North Carolina law&rsquo;s reduction of early voting days, including eliminating Sunday early voting, which she happily admits is a response to the popularity of early voting among Democratic voters:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>The reduction in the number of days allowed for early voting is particularly important because early voting plays a major role in Obama&rsquo;s ground game. </strong>The Democrats carried most states that allow many days of early voting, and Obama&rsquo;s national field director admitted, shortly before last year&rsquo;s election, that &ldquo;early voting is giving us a solid lead in the battleground states that will decide this election.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>She is especially upset that the Obama campaign (or the &ldquo;Obama technocrats&rdquo;) ran a successful early voting get-out-the-vote effort, or, as she puts it, &ldquo;identifying prospective Obama voters and then nagging them (some might say harassing them) until they actually vote&rdquo;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>The Obama technocrats have developed an efficient system of identifying prospective Obama voters and then nagging them (some might say harassing them) until they actually vote. </strong>It may take several days to accomplish this, so early voting is an essential component of the Democrats&rsquo; get-out-the-vote campaign.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But early voting&rsquo;s sins, according to Schlafly, go beyond being successfully used by Democrats. In fact, she says, early voting &ldquo;is actually contrary to the spirit of the U.S. Constitution&rdquo;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Early voting is actually contrary to the spirit of the U.S. Constitution.</strong> Article II states, &ldquo;the Congress may determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes, which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.&rdquo; Federal law sets the date for national elections on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But that isn&rsquo;t all! Schlafly -- who happens to be the recipient of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTIlNUvqI3s">2011 Citizens United Lifetime Achievement Award</a>--&nbsp; claims that early voting actually &ldquo;increases the influence of big money spent on campaigns.&rdquo; Not only that, she says, but it &ldquo;increases opportunities for ballot fraud&rdquo; because, she claims without any evidence, poll watchers aren&rsquo;t present during early voting:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Early voting increases the influence of big money spent on campaigns</strong> because it requires candidates to campaign, to spend and to buy expensive television ads over additional weeks.<strong> Early voting increases opportunities for ballot fraud because the necessary poll watchers we expect to be on the job at polling places on Election Day can&rsquo;t be present for so many days.</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Schlafly wraps up her argument by declaring that North Carolina&rsquo;s voter suppression law should &ldquo;cheer up&rdquo; conservatives&nbsp; as they work to restrict reproductive choice, cut unemployment insurance and Medicaid and mandate the teaching of cursive so that &ldquo;kids will now be able to read letters from their grandmothers&rdquo;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In 2012 the Democrats were so sure that North Carolina was a happy hunting ground for their votes that they held their National Convention in Charlotte to renominate Barack Obama. North Carolina promptly responded by voting down same-sex marriage in a referendum and then passing a bunch of good laws. So cheer up, conservatives.</p>
<p><strong>In addition to the helpful new voting laws, North Carolina passed stricter regulations on abortion clinics, ended teacher tenure, cut unemployment benefits, blocked the expansion of Medicaid and (despite the scorn of propagandists for the national takeover of education by Common Core) mandated the teaching of cursive writing. Maybe that&rsquo;s why the liberals are so angry: Kids will now be able to read letters from their grandmothers.</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Case closed.</p>
Miranda BlueC4North CarolinaPhyllis SchlaflyEagle Forum The Right to Vote44023Tue, 20 Aug 2013 13:25:45 -0500North CarolinaAFA North Carolina Affiliate: Sunday Voting Imperils Our Libertieshttp://www.pfaw.org/content/afa-north-carolina-affiliate-sunday-voting-imperils-our-liberties
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<p>The Christian Action League, the American Family Association&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.afa.net/Detail.aspx?id=2147483730">North Carolina affiliate</a>, issued a <a href="http://christianactionleague.org/news/governor-signs-voter-id-law-legislation-should-go-further-to-repeal-voting-on-any-sunday/#more-7336">statement </a>Friday praising a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/north-carolina-law-takes-war-on-voting-rights-to-a-new-low/2013/08/15/5b25a88c-0452-11e3-a07f-49ddc7417125_story.html">restrictive new voting law</a> in North Carolina. The group is particularly pleased with a provision eliminating early voting on Sundays. &ldquo;We have always opposed voting on Sunday for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that Sunday is the church&rsquo;s prime time for developing the character of a nation,&rdquo; said Mark Creech, the Christian Action League&rsquo;s director.</p>
<p>He adds that Sunday voting in fact imperils our freedom because &ldquo;it is a Sunday-cultivated character that makes an electorate fit to guard and preserve its liberties.&rdquo;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&ldquo;These new laws will not create a hardship for anyone who wants to&nbsp;vote in North Carolina. What they will do is ensure &mdash; through ID&nbsp;checks and a slowed down registration process &mdash; that all of our&nbsp;votes count,&rdquo; said Dr. Creech. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re most pleased that the&nbsp;shortened early voting period takes at least one Sunday out of the&nbsp;mix.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&hellip;</p>
<p><strong>&ldquo;We have always opposed voting on Sunday for a number of reasons,&nbsp;not the least of which is that Sunday is the church&rsquo;s prime time for&nbsp;developing the character of a nation,&rdquo; Dr. Creech said. &ldquo;It is a&nbsp;Sunday-cultivated character that makes an electorate fit to guard and&nbsp;preserve its liberties.&rdquo;</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Of course, Sunday early voting hours have been particularly popular among faith communities. In 2008, a &ldquo;souls to the polls&rdquo; drive in black churches led to 37,000 people in North Carolina casting Sunday votes. Last year, it was a <a href="http://thegrio.com/2012/10/25/why-are-african-americans-so-dominant-in-early-voting/">similar success</a>.<br />
&nbsp;</p>
Miranda BlueAmerican Family Association C4North CarolinaChristian Action LeagueThe Right to Vote44000Mon, 19 Aug 2013 09:45:56 -0500North CarolinaTop North Carolina Anti-Gay Activist Mulls Senate Runhttp://www.pfaw.org/content/top-north-carolina-anti-gay-activist-mulls-senate-run
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<p>The pastor who helped <a href="http://ncvalues.org/2012/01/vote-for-marriage-nc-announces-launch-of-campaign-and-website/">organize</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/05/pastor-doesnt-want-nc-seeing-gays-as-fine-and-dandy-recruits-51k-for-amendment1-for-that-very-purpose.html">finance</a> the campaign to pass North Carolina&rsquo;s constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions, Rev. Mark Harris of Charlotte&rsquo;s First Baptist Church, is pondering a run for US Senate against Democratic Senator Kay Hagan, a marriage equality supporter.</p>
<p>As reported by Jeremy Hooper, Harris, who leads North Carolina&rsquo;s Baptist convention, emphasized that the Amendment One campaign wasn&rsquo;t just about marriage but <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/05/audio-another-amendment1-preacher-another-personal-attack-on-lgbt-peoples-human-worth.html">attacking the gay community</a>:</p>
<p align="center"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="&file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodasyou.org%2Ffindanddandyharris.mp3&image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodasyou.org%2Ffindanddandy.png&plugins=viral-2d" height="250" src="http://www.goodasyou.org/player.swf" width="450"></embed></p>
<p>Harris also preached that God would <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/05/audio-pastor-says-heart-of-god-will-be-extremely-disappointed-is-amendment1-fails.html">mourn</a> the anti-gay amendment&rsquo;s defeat:</p>
<p align="center"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="&file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodasyou.org%2Fnctogod.mp3&image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodasyou.org%2Ffindanddandy.png&plugins=viral-2d" height="250" src="http://www.goodasyou.org/player.swf" width="450"></embed></p>
<p>His church also promoted a <a href="http://www.charlottefbc.org/why-i-will-vote-for-amendment-one">column</a> by his wife that put marriage equality advocates in the same category as Nazis and eugenicists, argued that people are gay as a result of sexual abuse, warned that the supporters of the &ldquo;gay agenda&rdquo; like Oprah Winfrey and Katy Perry are warping the minds of children and contended that gay youth are simply deluded.</p>
<p>Harris has informed his congregation about his potential run for Senate, the <em>Charlotte Observer</em> <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/06/4026395/charlotte-pastor-considers-us.html">reports</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
Harris, 47, met in Charlotte last week with about 70 people from around 20 North Carolina counties who are trying to draft him to run.<br />
<br />
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m certainly humbled and flattered by the confidence that these folks have expressed,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a little bit overwhelming to be honest. Right now we&rsquo;re doing two things. One &hellip; doing a lot of listening to people and the second and most importantly to me is just to pray and seek God&rsquo;s leadership &hellip; and see if that&rsquo;s his plan for me.&rdquo;<br />
<br />
Harris announced that to his congregation at the end of Sunday&rsquo;s service, and walked off to a standing ovation.<br />
<br />
&hellip;<br />
<br />
Last year, Harris campaigned heavily for Amendment One, which recognizes marriage between a man and a woman as the only valid union recognized in the state.<br />
<br />
He has hosted Republican precinct meetings at his church and last year brought in a number of prominent conservative speakers, including former presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee and Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago, Harris met with GOP consultant Tom Perdue of Atlanta, onetime chief strategist for former U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes, now the state&rsquo;s Republican chairman. Among the many GOP candidates Perdue has helped were former U.S. Sens. Paul Coverdell of Georgia and Bill Frist of Tennessee.</blockquote>
Brian TashmanAnti-GayC4Election 2014Mark HarrisMarriage EqualityNorth CarolinaFighting the Right42969Tue, 07 May 2013 10:15:41 -0500North CarolinaBauer: 'Only Reason that Romney Won North Carolina' was Anti-Gay Ad Campaignhttp://www.pfaw.org/content/bauer-only-reason-romney-won-north-carolina-was-anti-gay-ad-campaign
<p>Gary Bauer filled in for Family Research Council head Tony Perkins on <a href="http://www.frc.org/wwlivewithtonyperkins/gary-bauer-tom-rose"><em>Washington Watch</em></a> yesterday where he <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/bauer-gop-won-emphasized-marriage-abortion">once again</a> blamed the Republican Party&rsquo;s problems on a lack of opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights.</p>
<p>Bauer, who once led the FRC but now runs American Values and the Campaign for Working Families, chided President Obama for favoring marriage equality and claimed that &ldquo;if Martin Luther King, Jr. were alive today&rdquo; he would condemn Obama&rsquo;s pro-gay rights stance, which Bauer said &ldquo;twisted and distorted&rdquo; the legacy of the civil rights movement.</p>
<p>&ldquo;But in spite of all we&rsquo;ve done, all of our work, everything that you&rsquo;ve done at the grassroots level,&rdquo; Bauer lamented, &ldquo;we are right on the edge of losing that issue.&rdquo;</p>
<p align="center"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="undefined" flashvars="file=/sites/default/files/mp3/bauer-marriage-election-1.mp3" height="20" src="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/sites/default/files/mp3/player.swf" width="400"></embed></p>
<p>Later in the program, Bauer told a caller from North Carolina that the sole reason Romney won the state and no other swing states was because Bauer ran ads there attacking Obama&rsquo;s position on marriage equality.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We lost them all again except for one state and it was North Carolina,&rdquo; Bauer said. &ldquo;I believe the only reason that Gov. Romney won North Carolina was because the voters of that state were reminded of that issue, so it&rsquo;s a lesson I think for the Republican Party.&rdquo;</p>
<p align="center"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="undefined" flashvars="file=/sites/default/files/mp3/bauer-marriage-election-2.mp3" height="20" src="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/sites/default/files/mp3/player.swf" width="400"></embed></p>
<blockquote>
Let me give a tip of the hat to North Carolina, you know in 2008 President Obama won all of the swing states that are so important in presidential politics. In this last presidential election in 2012 there was a major effort made by conservatives to get those swing states back. Unfortunately, we lost them all again except for one state and it was North Carolina. The people of North Carolina took another look at Barack Obama and decided, &lsquo;hey, we made a mistake four years ago,&rsquo; and this time around they voted differently. I&rsquo;d like to think at least in part that happened in North Carolina because of some ads that I and other groups ran in that state on the marriage issue, reminding the voters of North Carolina who had just voted just a little over a year ago to keep marriage between a man and a woman, that President Obama had come out right after that vote and had endorsed same-sex marriage. I believe the only reason that Gov. Romney won North Carolina was because the voters of that state were reminded of that issue, so it&rsquo;s a lesson I think for the Republican Party.</blockquote>
<p>That&rsquo;s right; Bauer thinks that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Oye4rhUa2Fk">this ad</a> put Romney over the top in North Carolina.</p>
<p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Oye4rhUa2Fk" width="560"></iframe></p>
Brian TashmanAnti-GayC4Election 2012Gary BauerMarriage EqualityMitt RomneyNorth CarolinaAmerican Values Campaign for Working Families Fighting the Right42534Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:00:43 -0500North Carolina